Recent News

By Region: North America

Criminals and Terrorists in a Borderless, Technological Arms Race

(Forbes) At TEDGlobal 2012 in Scotland last month, Marc Goodman of Silicon Valley’s Singularity University delivered an inspired, yet potentially frightening look at how rapidly advancing technologies are changing our world. Not only is technology enabling unprecedented advances that let us live longer and better, but it is also at the core of fueling the Read More »

July 16, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, and Biological Weapons
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Scaled-back option raised for US agricultural biodefense lab

(Nature.com) The United States needs the capability to conduct research and surveillance for biological threats to its domestic livestock industry and study animal-borne diseases that could infect humans – but that capability need not be housed entirely in one location. That’s the conclusion of a National Reseach Council report released on 13 July that takes Read More »

July 16, 2012
| Filed under North America and Countermeasures
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U.S. Seeks Anthrax Toxin Treatments

The Obama administration has called for bids on the preparation of medicines to counter anthrax in people showing signs of infection following the deadly agent’s delivery in a biological strike, Global Biodefense reported on Monday. The request — issued by the Health and Human Services Department’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority — could result Read More »

July 15, 2012
| Filed under North America and Agents & Toxins
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Smallpox Vaccine Approved for Wider Use in U.S.

Danish biotechnology firm Bavarian Nordic on Wednesday said its smallpox vaccine has been authorized for use across a broader section of the U.S. populace in the event of a crisis. While the United States has enough standard smallpox vaccine on hand to safeguard all residents against a biological strike involving the virus, the product could Read More »

July 15, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Countermeasures, and Policy & Initiatives
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U.S. should scale down $1 billion Kansas biodefense lab: study

(The Chicago Tribune) – The United States should consider scaling down ambitious plans for a $1 billion laboratory in Kansas to study potentially deadly animal diseases, the National Research Council said on Friday in a key report to help the government decide how to proceed.